Windows lifecycle fact sheet

Last updated: April 2014

In this page

Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it's no longer supported. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to upgrade or make other changes to your software. Here are the rights and limits of the Windows lifecycle.

End of support

End of support refers to the date when Microsoft no longer provides automatic fixes, updates, or online technical assistance. This is the time to make sure you have the latest available update or service pack installed. Without Microsoft support, you will no longer receive security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that can steal your personal information. For more information go to
Microsoft Support Lifecycle
.

Mainstream support—Microsoft will offer mainstream support for a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product's general availability, or for 2 years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. For example, if you buy a new version of Windows and five years later another version is released, you will still have two years of support left for the previous version.

Extended support—Microsoft will offer extended support for either a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product's general availability, or for 2 years after the second successor product (two versions later) is released, whichever is longer.

End of sales

End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Examples of OEMS are Dell and Toshiba—PC manufacturers who often preinstall Windows software. When a version of Windows reaches its end of sales date, it's a good time to think about upgrading.

This table gives end of sales dates for specific Windows operating systems.

Client operating systems and updates

Date of general availability

Retail software end of sales *

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

Client operating systems and updates

Windows XP

Date of general availability

December 31, 2001

Retail software end of sales *

June 30, 2008

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

October 22, 2010

Client operating systems and updates

Windows Vista

Date of general availability

January 30, 2007

Retail software end of sales *

October 22, 2010

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

October 22, 2011

Client operating systems and updates

Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate

Date of general availability

October 22, 2009

Retail software end of sales *

October 31, 2013

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

October 31, 2014

Client operating systems and updates

Windows 7 Professional

Date of general availability

October 22, 2009

Retail software end of sales *

October 31, 2013

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

Not yet established **

Client operating systems and updates

Windows 8

Date of general availability

October 26, 2012

Retail software end of sales *

October 31, 2014

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

Not yet established

Client operating systems and updates

Windows 8.1

Date of general availability

October 18, 2013

Retail software end of sales *

Not yet established

End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled

Not yet established

* Note that when the retail software product reaches its end of sales date, it can still be purchased through OEMs (the company that made your PC) until it reaches the end of sales date for PCs with Windows preinstalled.

** Microsoft will provide one year of notice prior to the end of sale date.

When Microsoft launches a new version of Windows, we will continue to allow OEMs to sell PCs preinstalled with the previous version for up to two years after the launch date of the new version unless otherwise announced. Certain OEM versions of Windows products include downgrade rights (as outlined within the software license terms). Downgrade rights make it possible to use a previous version of Windows instead of the licensed software preinstalled on a new PC. See Downgrade rights for additional details.

For Volume Licensing programs, licenses will continue to be available through downgrade rights after the end of general availability. General availability of licenses for the previous version of Windows will cease as soon as the new version is available. However, we will make media available for the current version as well as the previous two versions.

Service packs and updates

Service packs and updates are part of the process of keeping your Windows product up to date. Service packs combine the latest updates and fixes into one package or download. A service pack can include security and performance improvements as well as support for new types of hardware. To install the latest service pack for Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, or to install the latest update for Windows 8, visit the Service Pack Center.

Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. If you are using software without the latest service pack you won't be offered any new security or non-security updates, although preexisting updates will continue to be offered. Refer to the Service Pack Lifecycle Support Policy for further information.

Not necessarily. Update notices only indicate your software has not reached its end of support date. To find out if you already have a service pack installed, read the information on our
Windows Update
page. To install the latest Windows service packs, see the Service Pack Center.

Windows downgrade rights

To use prior versions of Windows software on PCs installed with newer versions, it is possible for consumers to obtain a license for downgrade rights. These downgrade rights will vary depending on if the software was acquired via Volume Licensing, OEM, or FPP. To learn more about these rights, review the
downgrade rights licensing brief.